Five key tips from foreign parents for surviving the German school system

When navigating any new system, the best thing to do is ask someone who's been there before.

But new arrivals in Germany, or new parents, don't always have a network they can turn to. So we asked readers of The Local for their thoughts on the German school system and their tips for parents with children just starting out.

The German education system, unsurprisingly, has some significant differences from systems in other countries, from the lack of uniforms to differences in theories of learning, all the way down to the basics of how schools are organised. 

You can find out what parents really think of Germany's school system - both the positive and negative aspects - here.

But our readers also had some tips for parents and children just starting on their school journey.

Short days

Make a plan for dealing with Germany's unusually short school days.

As one respondent to our survey put it: German schools “start too early and finish too early, [and] the school day is too short.”

This can be a blessing, if you have the time to spend with your kids before or after school, or if it allows your kids to take part in other activities.

Cara Schaefer, a parent from the UK who lives in Siegburg, told The Local that the short school day is the best thing about the German education system because it allows “more time for children to play, relax and enjoy their childhood, without affecting their education.”

READ ALSO: The schoolyard terms you need to understand your German-speaking kids

But the short day can also be a challenging for some families, especially those with two working parents who may need to scramble to find after school childcare.

If this is the case for you, look around for local sports and after-school clubs. Germany has a long and proud tradition of volunteer-run Vereine (clubs) offering a wide range of activities at heavily subsidised prices.

No uniforms

Plan extra time for your kids to choose what to wear each morning.

Parents from the UK, India and other countries where school uniforms are common and strictly enforced, are bound to have strong opinions on their absence in German schools. Of course, for parents from the US, for example, this is one element of the German system that feels just like home.

In our recent survey, the lack of uniforms was alternately described as "the best thing," "the worst thing," and "the most surprising thing" about German schools by our readers.

Those who like uniforms say that having to wear their own clothes to school gives children one more thing to worry about and can sometimes lead to issues like teasing and bullying.

On the other hand, some parents like that their kids are free to express themselves and wear clothes they feel comfortable in.

Practically speaking, the lack of uniforms does generally mean buying a few more items of clothing for your kids and making more of an effort to help them keep up with changing trends.

Kids are sorted young

Perhaps the most glaring difference between school in Germany and many other countries is the two-tiered secondary school system. 

After elementary school (Grundschule), students follow different tracks based on academic achievement. Some students go to high school (Gymnasium), while others go to a vocational or trade school (Hauptschule or Realschule).

There are advantages to this system for some students - advocates argue that it keeps students more engaged by allowing them to focus on what interests them.

But for many foreign parents splitting kids onto different tracks at such a young age is an issue.

READ ALSO: Why Germany’s most populous state is bringing back nine years of school

Some readers told us they thought this happened "way too early". 

"We live in a age where no one really knows what to do in their life until they have passed high school," said Vivek Sharma who lives in Munich.

He added, "Segregation at a young age not only demotivates the individual but also takes away their interest," suggesting that some students get directed away from the path toward university, and instead are directed toward taking "a basic paying job at a very young age".

Parents new to the system are encouraged to plan ahead and have forward-looking conversations with their children at an early age. Ideally, by grade 4 you and your child should have a sense of which route they'd like to aim for. 

It's also important to remember, and to remind your kids, that it's always possible to switch paths or find alternatives later on down the line.

Plan your holidays carefully

In other countries, taking your kids out of class for a few days for a spontaneous vacation might not be a big deal, but in Germany it's taken quite seriously.

As in many countries, attending school is mandatory in Germany.

The difference is that in Germany the rules around attendance are strictly enforced. It's not entirely uncommon for parents to face a fine for taking their kids out of school even just for a day or two ahead of the summer holidays, for instance.

READ ALSO: ‘Schulpflicht’ - What parents need to know about kids missing school in Germany

For this reason, it's advisable to plan your family holidays around school breaks as much as possible. Anecdotally, however, some teachers will show some leniency towards children who have close family members living abroad.

For that reason - as well as many others - it's often helpful to cultivate good relationships with your child's teachers, because they usually have the final say on whether or not you can take your child out of school.

Be prepared for subjective grading

Grading in Germany is quite heavily weighted towards participation in class (Mitarbeit), in comparison with many other countries that can feel a bit obscure at times.

One parent told us they thought the German grading system was "the most subjective way to give grades", adding that there were no real rules around how participation grades were awarded, even though they made up 50 percent of the child's grade.

OPINION: German school grading is unfair on foreign students and it's maddening

As a parent, obviously you don't have complete control over your child's grades, much less the German grading system.

So the best you can do in this case is encourage your child to participate in class, and to speak up and answer questions in class.

And if your child happens to be the bright but quiet type...well, it may just require a bit of understanding in the end.